Photo-i have reviewed the latest version of Paint Shop Pro.

“The PSP browser has benefited from a major overhaul, it’s now called the Photo Organizer from here you can manage images and perform complex searches by filename, date, keyword or folders. By default the organiser looks for images in the My Pictures and Shared Pictures folders, but you can add as many folders as needed by clicking on the Add More Folders icon. Depending on how many images in your folders, it may take some time for the database to build or update, fortunately this is a background operation, so you can still get on with other things – like make a coffee.”

Website: Photo-i - Paint Shop Pro XI Review

Shutterbug have reviewed the Leica M8 digital rangefinder camera, which has a 10 megapixel sensor, focal factor of 1.33x and an ISO range of 160-2500.

“Overall, we judge the imaging performance of the Leica M8 to be outstanding. As expected, the well-proven rangefinder provided swift and precise manual focusing even in low light and with low-contrast subjects, and we found the image quality to be on a par with a high-end D-SLR. As with previous Leica M’s, camera-induced vibration was low, allowing us to shoot sharp pictures at slower shutter speeds than usual. “

Website: Shutterbug - Leica M8 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

We’ve all done something really stupid as photographers, haven’t we? Whether it’s leaving the lens cap on, shooting at a high ISO speed in bright sunlight, or leaving those freshly recharged batteries at home, every photographer has a story of mishap and woe. You might have missed the shot that would definitely have made the front cover, upset the relatives at a wedding, or included several of your fingers in the picture. So this is your opportunity to hold your hands up in the air and share your most embarassing photographic mistake with the whole world wide web. Go on, get it all off your chest and make yourself feel better by shouting out now...

Sigma have released a new firmware update, v1.01, for the Sigma SD14 DSLR camera. Improvements include:

  1. Sensor cleaning can now be done by powering the camera from the battery.
    Originally, sensor cleaning was only available through the dedicated AC adapter.
    If the voltage level of the battery becomes lower than a certain level, the camera will emit a warning beep and will close the cleaning mode. We strongly recommend using a fully charged battery for the sensor cleaning.
  2. If using the camera in ‘A’ mode with flash photography, the selected shutter speed would either be 1/60 or 1/180sec depending on the focal length.
    Now, the optimum shutter speed is selected from the range of 1/60 to 1/180sec.
  3. A slow sync mode has now been added if using the camera in ‘A’ mode with flash photography. The optimum shutter speed is selected from a range of 30sec to 1/180sec.
  4. Improved image quality when reviewing images on the rear LCD.
  5. Corrects the overexposure issue when using flash with high ISO setting under certain conditions.

Colour Confidence now offer total colour accuracy with the new Studio XR2 and Colour Confidence Profiler packages. The Studio XR2 includes X-Rite’s best-selling Eye-One Display 2 monitor calibrator, plus the Kodak Colour Management Check-Up Kit and the Total Balance grey card. The Colour Confidence Profiler is a complete monitor and printer profiling solution, built around the industry standard Eye-One Pro. The Studio XR2 (£149/€219 ex. VAT) and the Colour Confidence Profiler (£499/€749 ex. VAT) will be available from www.colourconfidence.com from May 1st.

The new Canon Digital IXUS 70 compact digital camera (also known as the Powershot SD1000) was first announced just before the PMA show in early March. Measuring just 19.4mm deep, the new IXUS 70 is Canon’s slimmest digital camera ever, and it also weighs just 125gms and fits in the palm of your hand. Headline features of the IXUS 70 include a 7 megapixel sensor, 2.5 inch LCD screen, 3x optical zoom lens and Face Detection. Based on the design of the original IXUS cameras, I find out if the Canon Digital IXUS 70 is the perfect fusion of retro styling and modern technologies.

Website: Canon Digital IXUS 70 Review

The LaCie 526 is a 26 inch wide-screen LCD monitor which 95% of the AdobeRGB colour space. Each LaCie 526 Monitor is individually measured and corrected at the factory to achieve panel uniformity, whilst the included LaCie blue eye pro software allows for hardware calibration in a single click. “Its wide gamut and uniform and stabilized panel ensures that what you see is what you get. If you edit projects with a calibrated LaCie 526 Monitor, you can trust that the end result will be accurate.” said Daniel Mayer, LaCie Color Business Unit Manager. The LaCie 526 Monitor will be available end of April for $1,999 MSRP.

The Royal Photographic Society’s 149th International Print Exhibition will spend a month in the National Art Museum of Ukraine in Kiev from 18th May until 17th June 2007. Over 50,000 people visited the exhibition during its recent tour of the UK. “Over the last 150 years, the International Print Exhibition has stood for the very best photography that the world has to offer and it is exciting that we are now able to share the exhibition with photographic enthusiasts in the Ukraine for the first time, thanks to the support of the British Council.” commented Professor Ralph Jacobson ASIS Hon. FRPS, President of the Royal Photographic Society.

Direct2Dealer is a new direct ordering service through which photographers and retailers can order Harman professional inkjet papers directly from the factory. The service is expected to be very popular amongst colleges, universities and camera clubs, with free postage on orders over £45. Steven Brierley, sales director at HARMAN technology commented: “The Direct2Dealer service is something we have established with other products manufactured at HARMAN technology, and with the launch of HARMAN PHOTO inkjet products, we expect demand to be equally high.”

A new firmware download, version 1.102, is now available for the Leica M8 camera. The following technical optimizations have been incorporated into Firmware version 1.102:

- Automatic compensation of color shifts at the edge of images resulting from the use of LEICA UV/IR filters on Leica M lenses with focal lengths of between 16 and 35mm.
- Improvement of internal process steps

Website: Leica M8 v1.102 Firmware Update

CNET have reviewed the Canon TX1 digital camera, which features a 10x optical zoom lens (39mm-390mm) with Optical Image Stabilization, 115,000-pixel Vari-Angle LCD screen and 7.1 megapixel sensor.

“Still images showed more ISO noise and image artifacts than we’re used to with Canon’s digital still cameras. We also saw other image artifacts, which turned some curved lines and angled lines jaggy. Colors looked accurate overall, and we saw a decent amount of finer detail, but the images weren’t as tack sharp as many of the company’s cameras from recent years.”

Website: CNET - Canon TX1 Review

Ricoh have released a new firmware update, 1.61, for the Ricoh R5 camera, which adds the following:

- The update tool for Windows (FirmUpdate.exe) supports the Windows Vista. (You will have to install the RICOH Gate La for Windows Vista on ahead.)
- Modified the phenomenon that a movie file from the R5 will not sound properly in the Windows Vista.

Website: Ricoh R5 v1.61 Firmware Update

SigmaUser have started a diary-based review of the Sigma SD14 DSLR camera.

“Focus locks on a nearby object with a quiet beep and I press the shutter. Now if you have ever used the SD9/10 cameras, you, as I was, would be expecting a noisy clacking sound as the shutter operated. Instead, once I realised that the shutter had really actuated, the grin got wider. This camera has one of the quietest SLR shutters available. It is little more than a whisper.”

Website: SigmaUser - Sigma SD14 Review

Megapixel.net have reviewed the new Canon A640, which has 10 megapixels, a 2.5 inch LCD screen and 4x optical zoom lens.

“With a 10-megapixel CCD, the A640 offers a high resolution image that is able to capture a superb level of detail and which guarantees great prints. And this, combined with a broad set of modes that allow a photographer to grow, make it one of the best compacts on the market today.”

Website: Megapixel.net - Canon PowerShot A640 Review

Website: Read our Canon Powershot A640 Review

Canon A640 - Latest Prices / User Reviews

DCResource have reviewed the 10 megapixel Samsung GX-10 DSLR camera.

“Since the Samsung GX-10 and Pentax K10D are 99% identical, is there any reason to buy one over the other? Not particularly. Yeah, the K10D is the only one with a battery grip, but that should change shortly according to Samsung. My advice is to buy the one you can get the best deal on. Right now, that’s the K10D, but since the GX-10 is just now hitting the market, that may change.”

Website: DCResource - Samsung GX-10 Review

DPReview have reviewed the new Fujifilm F31fd camera, which adds face detection and infra-red communication to the 6 month old F30 model.

“There have been changes over the F30; the new processor’s noise reduction has been tweaked slightly to preserve a little more detail, meaning that all ISO settings are slightly noisier than the F30; ISO 1600 and 3200 visibly so. The default contrast and sharpening also appear to have been turned down a notch (more like half a notch really).”

Website: DPReview - Fujifilm F31fd Review

Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix F31fd Review

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DPReview have published their review of the Panasonic DMC-L1 DSLR camera.

“Nobody can doubt the quality of the kit Panasonic / Leica lens, contrasty and sharp with a very usable zoom range and excellent image stabilization. However it does add considerably to the cost of the DMC-L1 (in our estimations about half of its asking price), so at the point of sale it’s a double edged sword.”

Website: DPReview - Panasonic DMC-L1 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Sony W55 camera, which offers 7.2 megapixels, Real Imaging Processor, ISO 1000 and a 3x optical zoom lens.

“This is another new offering from Sony with even more megapixels than its predecessor, the DSC-W50. Staying with the compact Cyber-shot theme, this camera gives you fully automatic exposure as well as enough options to let you get creative. With 7.2 megapixels tucked into its small frame, a large, clear 2.5 inch color LCD monitor and useful creative controls, you may find yourself carrying this little camera around a lot.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Sony W55 Review

DIWA member Photoxels have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FX30, the world’s slimmest digital camera with a 28mm wide-angle lens.

”...there’s lots to like about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30. If you intend to take pictures mostly for 4x6 in. prints (or large prints at ISO 100) or for Web display, the Panasonic FX30 has more than the standard point-and-shoot model. The effective image stabilization, wide-angle zoom, 19 Zoom steps and fast performance will be the deciding factors for many beginner photographers. More advanced photographers will appreciate the availability of manual WB, live histogram and framing guide.”

Website: Photoxels - Panasonic DMC-FX30 Review

Kingston and MyMemory Limited today unveiled the industry’s first Flash memory vending machine at the North Terminal, Gatwick Airport. MyMemory vending machines dedicated to exclusively selling Flash memory products using chip and pin will be placed in all major airports, mainline stations and underground stations. “They want instant access to SD cards and USB drives as they need them 24/7, so vending machines in public spaces was the most obvious solution.” commented Ann Keefe, Director of Sales UK & Ireland at Kingston Technology.